OF HORSEMANSHIP. 115 



The grofs and ignorant ftate in which thcfc people 

 live, their bigotted attachment to their own cuftoms 

 and manners, then- little intercourfe with the more 

 polifhed parts of the globe, and their manner of fit- 

 ting on horfeback (which, though fufficient for their 

 purpofes, yet does not fpeak them to be acquainted 

 with the true feat, and is aukward and clumfy) feem 

 all to incline us to believe, that this fufpicion is not 

 groiindlefs. Neverthelefs, it muft be acknowledged, 

 that without thefe advantages, the Arabs and their 

 horfes deferve the greateft commendations ; but the 

 latter feem to be entitled to the larger fhare, while we 

 cannot but lament, that people who have fuch noble 

 and fine-toned Injiruments^ fliould underftand Mitjic no 

 better. 



Thefe horfes, by the unanimous allowance of all 

 who have feen them, are reckoned the moft beautiful 

 of their kind, larger and more furniflied than thofe of 

 Barbary, and of the jufteft proportions ; but as very few 

 have been brought into Europe, it is not poffible to 

 fpeak of them collectively, with that jullice and accuracy, 

 which would decide their charadler. There is fcarcely 

 an Arab, how indigent and mean foever, who is not 

 pofTefTed of fomc. They ufually prefer (like the an- 

 cient Scythians) to ride Mares, experience having con- 

 vinced them, that they endure fatigue better, and refill 

 the calls of hunger and third longer than horfes, not 

 being fo inclined to vice, but gentle and willing, nor 

 fo fubjedl to neigh as the males. They are fo ac- 



Qji cuflomcJ 



